Monday, August 31, 2009

30 Weeks - Squash


Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 30 w, 1 d. HOLY SHIT, I'M 30 WEEKS PREGNANT

Total weight gain/loss: Lots. I think around 27 pounds - the new receptionist at the doctor's office actually says my weight out loud instead of just writing it down like the other girl, and I think I'm in the 27 pound range now.

Maternity clothes: Yup. And up until now I've been loving it. But it's started to get a little cool in the mornings and I'm reminded of how many cute sweaters I won't be able to wear this fall and I'm getting a little nostalgiac for my non-mat clothes.

Stretch marks: Nope. Fingers crossed.

Sleep: Is awesome.

Best moment this week: There have been a few really good moments this week related to the baby room. We're making a little tiny bit of progress - the new light's up and curtains too. And yesterday we brought back a ton of stuff from London, including the changetable, portable bassinette, and bouncy chair. On the list for this week: buy a big fluffy white rug, a glider and dresser. And this weekend we hope to drive to London to pick up the crib.

Movement: Yup. The once-cute little nudges and rolls have become full-on jabs.

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: None

Gender: I'm still not convinced one way or the other.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Let me see... let's just name a few
  • My shoes. When the weather starts to get chilly, I want to dig out my cute boots - like those cute red leather ones I bought last year. Stupid Elefeet.
  • My wedding rings
  • Gin martinis and red wine
  • My favourite jeans
  • being able to easily put on my underwear
  • My old complexion
What I'm looking forward to: Getting the baby room looking like a baby room
Weekly Wisdom: Pregnancy hormones make for fantastic sex (despite the considerably limited number of comfortable positions at my disposal).
Symptoms this week: Ridiculously swollen feet (normal), charley horses in my calves (normal - the doc. says my muscles are just tired), swollen fingers (normal) and that's really about it. I am probably her easiest patient ever, because all my symptoms are so minor and not really problematic.
Milestones: Nothing major this week.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Elefeet

I fondly remember when I used to have cute feet, and those cute feet had many, many pairs of cute shoes to wear. Now, I have Elefeet.


Behold:







Monday, August 24, 2009

29 Weeks - Squash!

Weekly Pregnancy Journal
How far along: 29 w, 1 d.
Total weight gain: No idea
Maternity clothes: Yup
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Is still pretty good. I've been propping myself up the last few nights so I can sort of sleep on my back - at least until I sink down partway through the night and have to roll on my side.
Best moment this week: Nothing major this week, baby-wise. I guess it would be that we're starting to make some progress in the baby room. I hung curtains yesterday, and Nick put up a new light in the room to replace the awful 60s-esque Ikea pendant light that was in there. This weekend when we go to London, I hope to bring the crib back from my SIL's house (but she may want to hold on to it a little longer), and at the very least, we're bringing back the change table.
Movement: Lots - and you can see a lot of it from the outside. Most of the jabs are on the left side, and sometimes I think the baby is trying to bust its way out my belly button. Baby's still super-active at night after about 9 p.m.
Cravings: Nothing really. The fruit and mozz/tomato salad obsession has waned a bit. Both are still great, but I think I've gorged myself enough that the novelty has worn off a bit.
Aversions: None
Gender: I'm not convinced either way. So I guess Nick and I both got what we wanted - he found out the sex, and since I don't know if I really believe what the ultrasound technician told us, I'll still be surprised in the delivery room.
Labour Signs: None
Belly Button in or out: Still in, surprisingly
What I miss: My wedding rings. These fake ones are meh - fine, but they're not my pretty rings.
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a crib in the baby room. And buying a glider and dresser.
Symptoms this week: Still swelling and acne.
Milestones: I think I'm starting to waddle. It's not cute. It's only when I'm getting tired and/or my back's hurting because I've pushed myself too much (i.e. after an entire weekend of being on the go, getting stuff done around the house), but still. I don't want to waddle.
Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Monday, August 17, 2009

28 Weeks - Still an eggplant

Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 28 w, 1 d.
Total weight gain: No idea
Maternity clothes: Yup
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Is generally good. I really wish I could sleep in though. And everyone telling me, "it's jus getting you prepared for when you have the baby!" can go to hell. I don't have a baby yet, I should be able to sleep in on a Sunday for crying out loud.
Best moment this week: So many little moments have been great, but not really baby-related. Mostly house stuff. Every little thing I check off the big house to do list brings me one step closer to being able to concentrate on baby stuff.
Movement: Lots :)
Cravings: Nothing in particular this week
Aversions: None
Gender: The other day we found out that a girl we know was told she was having a boy 3 weeks before her due date - when she was told GIRL up until this point. She's in panic mode, exchanging all the pink stuff she got at her baby shower for blue stuff. That's stressful as hell. So last night I had a similar dream, and now I'm worried. We really need to have two names picked out, despite the fact that we know the sex.
Labour Signs: None
Belly Button in or out: Still in, surprisingly
What I miss: My wedding rings.
What I'm looking forward to: Getting the baby room in order - right now it's an empty room with two boxes in it.
Symptoms this week: Still swelling and acne.
Milestones: Nothing major

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Green Light!

So I got the results of my glucose tolerance test today (I've decided I won't spend a whole paragraph complaining how my appointment was a full hour late and only took 5 minutes... grrr). And I passed! She said, "So, you're not diabetic! Now you can eat all the cake and chocolate and cookies you want!" How's that for enabling? If only I didn't have to worry about working it all off after...

The rest of the appointment was short and sweet. Took my blood pressure - normal. Told me again that the swelling in my feet and hands is fine because my blood pressure is normal, and it'll probably only get worse. She felt my belly and said the baby's measuring right where s/he should be at 27 weeks. Then we listened to the heartbeat, and that was it. I didn't have any questions, so we were out the door in 5 minutes (well, make that an hour and five minutes... Did I mention that we waited an hour to have a 5 minute appointment? Ya. Awesome).

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

27 Weeks - Eggplant

Ack, I totally missed my 26 week post, and now I'm late for 27. I have a good excuse though! I'm now blogging from my brand new office in my brand new house!

Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 27 w, 3 d. Hello 3rd Trimester!
Total weight gain: I actually think that in the last week, because I've been so active with the move, I've probably lost weight! On the other hand though, I think my belly feels heavier, and my boobs definitely are too!
Maternity clothes: Yup
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Has been great the last few days, probably because I'm just so damn tired after a long day of unpacking and doing other house stuff. I still can't sleep past 7 though.
Best moment this week: The last two weeks have been crazy memorable! My new niece, Jordyn Anne, was born on Wednesday, July 29! She's gorgeous, and my brother and sister-in-law couldn't be happier (my nephew likes here some of the time). We took possession of our house and got our new car on the same day - that was amazing! And on Saturday, August 8, we moved into the new house and officially became adults!
Movement: Lots :) I can see it from the outside now when the baby kicks hard, but Nick hasn't seen that yet.
Cravings: Tomato mozzerella salad
Aversions: None
Gender: We were in the parking lot at Home Depot the other day, and some random worker collecting carts shouted from across 2 rows of cars, "You're going to have a baby girl!" I just shrugged. That was weird. One of the moving guys said boy. So that makes 3 people saying boy, the whole rest of the world saying girl.
Labour Signs: None
Belly Button in or out: In
What I miss: My wedding rings. Seeing the bones in my feet at the end of the day. It's been particularly bad this week because I've been on my feet all day getting stuff done at the house.
What I'm looking forward to: Having everything unpacked
Weekly Wisdom: Listen to your feet when they start filling up like water balloons and just go sit down! (Easier said than done when you have a to-do list a mile long!)
Symptoms this week: The bones in my feet have been replaced with water. I can't wear my wedding rings at all anymore. Acne. HUGE boobs, and now they're all veiny. Hot.
Milestones: Seeing the baby kick from the outside of my belly! hitting the 3rd trimester a few days ago!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Fit Pregnancy's top 20 reasons you’ll miss about being pregnant - and my thoughts on each.

I just read an article on FitPregnancy.com, and thought I'd comment on their list of the top 20 reasons you'll miss about being pregnant. I've cut the article down a bit in some spots. The original is here: http://www.fitpregnancy.com/yourpregnancy/sex_relationships/20-reasons-youll-miss-being-pregnant-40728997.html?page=1


1) having a secret Before anything shows on the outside, you know something's happening on the inside. For the first few months you might look like your same old self, but you know something that no one else does.

Agreed. And knowing the sex when everyone's guessing is an even bigger fun secret! Even though I didn't want to know and won't get that big surprise in the delivery room, I have to admit that it's fun listening while everyone makes their predictions based on my belly.

2) smiles from total strangers Once you start showing, you might be surprised at what a friendly place the world has become. You've joined the sorority, sister, and your stunning silhouette brings smiles, questions and congratulations.

Agreed – partly. I love the smiles and sweet comments… but I won't miss the "wow, you're so big already!" bullshit.

3) naps In our go-go-go world, there may not be another time in your life when you don't have to feel guilty about sneaking in a 30-minute snooze after lunch. In fact, when you're pregnant, naps are practically prescribed. So slumber away blissfully: Soon enough you'll be sleeping on your baby's schedule — in other words, naps may be the only sleep you'll get.

I do love naps, and I will definitely miss being well rested.

4) that rosy glow The pregnant woman's glow might be more myth than reality. You do get some increased blood circulation, but it generally doesn't show on the face.
But just as we're about to cross this off the list, Lichtman offers another explanation. "I do see wonderful smiles and happiness, and that emotion is translated onto the face." Aha — an inner glow. Even better.

I don't think I have a glow – other than the shine on my face from my over-active oil glands. So I won't miss this. I'd like my old, acne-free skin back.


5) calories, calories, calories Women can eat more during pregnancy because they're eating for two. The exact number of calories will depend on how active you are and what your metabolic rate is. If you play your cards right, you can potentially extend this benefit for another year or so by nursing your baby — you'll need the extra calories to produce all that milk.

I love not really thinking about what I'm eating. I'm eating well and pretty healthy (I've never drank so much milk in my life1), but I don't say no to sweets and bread like I used to. This is the first summer where I haven't been on South Beach in a long time, and man, am I ever loving the fruit.

6) the anticipation There's a certain excitement in looking forward to events — it allows us to extend and savor our enjoyment of them. The anticipation phase is pure enjoyment It's like waiting for Christmas.

Agreed! And along with that, I can't wait for baby's first Christmas, complete with a newly monogrammed stocking and presents under the tree from Santa!

7) indulging your cravings sans guilt It's important for pregnant women to listen to what their bodies want. A woman may be craving a food that is high in a nutrient she really needs.
This is your very own pregnancy, and you get to indulge whatever cravings your hormones concoct. Mangoes? Chocolate chip cookies? Steak? Go for it.

I haven't been having any 'typical' pregnancy cravings, but as I said above, I'm really loving the summer of guilt-free fruit!

8) feeling special The humdrum of daily routine can suck the feeling-specialness out of the best of us. But is there anything more special than creating life? "Making a person!" Nothing humdrum about that.

It is pretty incredible – I mean, I have a tiny human growing INSIDE MY UTERUS!!!

9) being the center of attention Pregnancy may be the last time in a long while that you are the center of attention. Once they have the baby, so many women are so instantly wrapped up in — and overwhelmed by — caring for their infant that they immediately forget the recent experience of being pregnant. Also, the outside world pays attention to you when you're pregnant and to the baby once it's born.

Yes and no. It's great to an extent, but sometimes I'd just like to walk through the halls at work and not have everyone stare at my belly and start speculating about the gender based on how high I'm carrying.

10) the shopping New clothes for you. New clothes for baby. New furniture, new gadgets, new linens. Yellow and green if you don't know, pink or blue if you do. Socks smaller than your pinkie finger, whimsical hats with ears attached. Just remember that you do still have to save for college.

I can't wait to really shop for the little brownie! As soon as we have the house (and Nick signs another contract), let the baby shopping begin!


11) tiny hiccups & big kicks There is simply no substitute for the wonder of feeling your child move inside you. Ultrasounds are wondrous but distant meetings with your unborn child. It's that first squirm in your belly that signals a personal hello.
The first time your baby has the hiccups after she's born will be a sweet yet sad reminder of what you used to feel inside.

I will miss that, for sure. I haven't felt hiccups yet, but I can only imagine how unreal that will be!

12) being taken care of
You're led to the front of the line, the door is cheerily opened for you, and your sweetie even offers to bring you a snack and rub your feet. Isn't this the way life should be? So what if it isn't PC — it sure is fun. Let's face it, after your baby's born, you will be the one carrying the bundle and wiping up messes wherever you go.

Nick definitely enjoys the expectant mother parking more than I do, and I'm pretty self-sufficient overall. But ya, I'll admit that I like getting the special treatment.

13) all that motivation
When pregnant, you're motivated like never before — you watch what you eat, eliminate unhealthful habits, get plenty of rest and stay physically active. "Pregnancy is a good opportunity for a woman to develop a sound nutrition plan and healthy habits for the rest of her life," Kundrat says. Cutting your daily dose of caffeine, eliminating artificial sweeteners and increasing your water intake are all smart moves for baby. If you can stick with them, these better habits will serve you well for years to come.

Eh, I guess.

14) fabulous follicles Some women will get thicker hair during pregnancy and some won't, says Shangold. (Changing hormone levels can synchronize hair growth so it is all in the same phase, meaning more hairs might be on your head at a given time.) Like everything else on the list, enjoy it while it lasts.

I haven't experienced this at all – my hair is exactly the same as it was before – except that now I seem to be growing fine hairs on my belly too, which I will be glad to get rid of!


15) who cares if your clothes fit? This may be the only time in your life when you're supposed to expand like a balloon. But don't use that as an excuse to inflate beyond reason: A steady, gradual and not too extreme weight gain is advised during pregnancy.

Agreed – It was so liberating being in the Bahamas in the maternity bathing suit, knowing that my belly isn't supposed to be flat! But…. I do miss feeling thin, and rolling over in bed easily. And having pajama pants that fit.

16) you're never alone
Of course, you will have your bundle of joy when it's all over and done with. But sharing your body with your child provides an intimacy unmatched by any other relationship.

Um, I guess?

17) a better body image Pregnancy brings countless changes to your body. Paying attention to the nuances of that child growing inside you means you'll feel everything from your breath to your belly with new appreciation. A lot of people are more aware of their bodies during pregnancy. But, some women are not so happy with the way their bodies change. "It would be nice if all pregnant women would think of the pregnant body as being beautiful," she says.

I feel pretty good about myself – until people speculate that I must be almost full-term. Jerks. But otherwise, it's been fun!

18) having pregnancy as an excuse Forgot where you parked? That's OK — you're pregnant. Need to walk slowly? That's OK — you're pregnant. Just want to sit and daydream? Of course you do — you're pregnant. Behaviour that raises eyebrows in "real life" seems universally excused for now.

Funny – YES.

19) the newness of it all When was the last time you were truly surprised? Or experienced something completely new? In this day of Internet information, television, fax and instant everything, there isn't much wonder left in the world. Until you become pregnant, that is. For 40 weeks, almost every day brings something new. In a way, both you and your baby are experiencing a birth.

I am really enjoying this – every week is a new milestone. Everything is new and exciting!

20) taking part in the miracle of life
It sounds like a cliché — until it happens to you. During the course of your pregnancy, it's hard not to marvel at the little bit of destiny growing inside you and follow its progress with acute interest: two cells, then four, then eight. The size of a pea, then a peanut. A heartbeat, fingers, toes. Inside you. Inside you.

Seriously. Yes. How can my uterus grow a person?? Honestly?? That's freaking mental, and it's awesome.

25 weeks - Eggplant

Weekly Pregnancy Journal



How far along: 25 w, 1 d. Holy crap - only 80 days until Mat leave!

Total weight gain: Meh.

Maternity clothes: Yup

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Still hit and miss. I keep getting this cramp up near my ribs, which makes it very difficult to get comfortable on my side

Best moment this week: Um.... I don't know actually. It's been a pretty normal week.

Movement: Lots :) and WTEWYE says I might start feeling hiccups soon because baby's vocal chords are starting to work!

Cravings: Still fruit. And tomato mozzerella salad

Aversions: None

Gender: Everyone's still guessing girl.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Wearing my rings all day without my fingers swelling up. It's been so humid out.

What I'm looking forward to: Getting our new Ford Escape and our house this week! And my new niece or nephew - we're just waiting!

Weekly Wisdom: Umm.... I don't think I have anything

Symptoms this week: Swelling - mostly in the hands, a little in the feet. And did I mention last week that the acne is back? 'Cuz it is. And I hate it. At least now I'm armed with a great cleanser and zit cream and don't have to suffer with teenager-esque acne quietly.

Milestones: I had to buy some fake wedding rings from Shoppers Drug Mart on Saturday. I hate the thought of not wearing my rings, so this'll have to do until the humidity goes the hell away. Ooh, and a work-milestone: my job has officially been posted and they're starting to recruit to fill the contract!


Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sausage fingers

The days of wearing my wedding rings are numbered, it seems. It's humid out today and I'm all swollen. I feel like a house today - my bellly feels huge and my legs feel cumbersome. It feels muggy even in the office, and normally it's so bloody cold that we're bundled up all summer.
 
My fingers have gotten a little swollen over the past week, especially on the weekend, but nothing really major during work hours because it's so cold in here. But today, I think I have to actually take my rings off and put them in my purse or something. It sucks. If I have to stop wearing them, I'll probably wear my grandma's rings since they're quite a big bigger. At least then I wouldn't look like the single pregnant girl and my fingers wouldn't feel so naked. But still... I don't want to be without my wedding rings. I love them.
 
So I've spent the first half of the summer complaining about the lack of summer weather... and now I wished I would have just shut up already and enjoyed the lack of humidity, even though it meant I had to wear sweaters all the time.
 
Be careful what you wish for...
 
 

Monday, July 20, 2009

Oh, those beautiful little pink caplets....

Each week when I fill in the "What I Miss" field, I think of the obvious things - like sleeping, and wine, and not feeling like a beached whale every time I lay down.
 
But one thing I haven't given its due credit is how much I miss PEPTO BISMOL. Man, what I wouldn't give for one of those beautiful little pink caplets that cure everything....
 
Especially now that I have the diet of a very oversized (and not very nimble) fruit bat, I would LOVE to take just one. Even a half of one. My digestive tract would love me for it.  And my feet would thank me - because I spend a good portion of every day walking back and forth to the washroom, hoping to find it empty (because ladies just don't do that kind of thing when there's someone else in there - Nick does not get this). I understand, though, that our little brownie would likely not thank me for taking the Pepto... But man oh man... I miss the convenience of taking those perfect little pills and feeling fabulous no matter what I ate.

24 weeks - still a papaya


Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 24 w, 1 d

Total weight gain/loss: Meh. Lots, obviously.

Maternity clothes: Yup, but I've been curbing my online shopping habit these days. Good for me ;)

Stretch marks: Not yet, which is surprising.

Sleep: Still hit and miss

Best moment this week: Hearing that my blood pressure is normal, so the off & on swelling in my hands and feet is nothing to worry about.

Movement: All the time! Especially after I eat and after 9 p.m.

Cravings: Fruit. And all of a sudden, Nick likes fruit too (this is honestly a first) so we've been sharing grapes in bed. :)

Aversions: None

Gender: Everyone's still guessing girl. Except one girl at work. And I know who's right and who's wrong ;)

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Refreshing beverages. NOT having people stare at my tummy all the time! Honestly, it's getting annoying. I had someone at work on Friday say she thought I was ready to pop. Thanks. I have 4 months left. That's awesome. Seriously people. I have no torso - where the heck else can the baby go but out?

What I'm looking forward to: Our house! We get possession next Friday!

Weekly Wisdom: Hold your tongue. It's not worth telling people off when they say rude things (like 'wow! I thought you were farther along than that!' piss off.)

Symptoms this week: Some swelling, off and on. Nick went to hold my hand on the weekend and he said it was like he was holding someone else's hand because my fingers were puffy. Grand. And we were lying in bed and he flung his leg over my hip and said "wow, your hips are getting wider, eh?". Honestly. NEVER say that to a pregnant woman. It's true, it's necessary, it's normal, BUT SHE DOES NOT WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE NOTICED.
Oh, and I haven't mentioned yet that it appears the acne is back. Superfantastic.

Milestones: Nothing major this week.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Doctor's appointment

We went to see my OB this afternoon, and all is well. She took my blood pressure and said it was normal (woo!), which means that the swelling I've been having off and on isn't a big deal. She just said to keep my feet up and drink a lot of water. She was surprised by how big my belly has gotten since the last time she saw me - it really has grown. I feel fine when I'm standing up, but as soon as I lay down, I feel like I'm being pinned down by the weight of my belly. I'm still rocking heels though ;)

She wants me to go for a gestational diabetes test, which I know is standard but still makes me nervous. I hope I don't have that - because man am I ever enjoying sugar. I'm a fruit-aholic these days (I'd be quite content with having a fruit salad for lunch and nothing else). I hope everything's fine, but I still worry. I have to go for that in 2 weeks so she has the results for our next appointment, 2 weeks later.

We listened to the baby's heartbeat - 144, which is normal. And she felt my belly to find the top of my uterus - it's up so high now! Last time it was around my belly button, and now it's halfway between my belly button and my rib cage! But she said there's lots of room for the baby to grow still, which makes sense since I still only feel the kicks and punches bellow the belly button.

And that's really about it. A quick appointment, but reassuring to know that everything's good.

Monday, July 13, 2009

23 Weeks - still a Papaya

Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 23 w, 1 d

Total weight gain/loss: ?

Maternity clothes: Yup, and Nick's sister just passed along some new shirts. They're pretty big on me still, but I'm sure at this rate that I'll grow into them.

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: I miss normal sleep. A lot.

Best moment this week: Picking out paint colours for the new house (and nursery!) with my mom yesterday

Movement: Yup. Nick finally felt it this week! Only a couple of times throughout the week, despite how many times I said "quick! put your hand here!" But last night, the baby was SUPER active when I was lying in bed and over the course of 5 minutes he felt it 4 times, loud and clear. It was awesome :)

Cravings: Still sour, though I'm not sure it's really a 'pregnancy craving'. I've always liked sour things, I'm just in a 'sour foods' kind of mood these days.

Aversions: None

Gender: Everyone still thinks we don't know

Labour Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out: In, for now.

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably

What I'm looking forward to: The house! And getting our new Ford Escape that we impulse-bought on Friday night! (We had been looking at sedans this whole time, and on Friday decided on the SUV)

Weekly Wisdom: Try not to worry that my SIL, who is 2 weeks from her due date, is about the same size as me now.... Sigh.

Symptoms this week: Cankles. I don't always have them, but I definitely swell up when I've been on my feet all day.

Milestones: Nothing new this week

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Calf + Ankle =

Cankles.

I now have cankles.

Cankle: "An obese or otherwise swollen ankle that blends into the calf without clear demarcation"

Mine aren't obese (thank goodness) but they definitely swell up now, which is new. I'm not even in the 3rd trimester yet. Awesome.

I was talking to my mom about it the other night and she said she had cankles from around 4.5 - 6 months and then it magically went away. I'm praying it's genetic.

I went out yesterday to Winners with the intention of buying some sensible flats to combat the swelling feet... and came home with these instead, and they're totally worth it:


Sensible? No. Cheap? Definitely not. But HOT? Heck Yes!

I wore them with pride today, in all my 5 month pregnant glory.

After work today, I went to Payless and picked out some boring sensible shoes, which I will wear begrudgingly with a snarl on my face.













(I bought the round-toe ones in eggshell white)

Monday, July 6, 2009

Everybody Dance!

Today, it seems, I'm hosting some kind of rave in my ute. A rave with only one raver, but a rave nonetheless.

Dance dance dance.... on the left hand side. Dance dance dance.... around the belly button. Dance dance dance... back to the left. All day, from about 7 a.m. until forever. With maybe an hour here and there where the baby is likely absorbing some nutrients through the delicious amniotic fluid (which today would taste like the chocolate chip pancakes I had for breakfast along with meatloaf for lunch), downloading some new tunes to the internal iPod, and mentally choreographing some new moves so that there can be much more dancing. Dance dance dance.

Hope you're having fun in there, little one! The rest of us out here (meaning me) are working like suckers on a cloudy Monday.

22 weeks - Papaya

Weekly Pregnancy Journal


How far along: 22 w, 1 d

Total weight gain/loss: ?

Maternity clothes: Yup

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: Meh. I'm still looking for a comfortable position.

Best moment this week: Nick finally felt the baby kick last night!

Movement: Yup :) And Nick *finally* felt it!

Cravings: Sour anything. I've been drinking a lot of water with lime juice in it.

Aversions: None

Gender: It's a.... baby :)

Labour Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Sleeping on my back. Not feeling like my body is holding me back - that's new. I was packing last night and found it really hard to bend to label the boxes whereas last week it was no problem. And we went to WalMart (ugh) yesterday and about 3/4 of the way through the shopping, my feet just started killing me.

What I'm looking forward to: The house!

Weekly Wisdom: Stop eating so much damn salt!

Symptoms this week: Nothing major.

Milestones: I hit three new milestones this week: First, Nick felt the baby kick! Woooo! The other two aren't so pleasant. I Peezed this week - the combo sneeze + a little pee. It happened twice, so I'm thinking it wasn't just a fluke. And third, my feet have started swelling, and that doesn't make me happy. I love my shoes.





Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Rounding up to 5

The fourth month has felt like it has gone on for freaking ever. I'm now rounding up, saying I'm around 5 months. I don't know why, but it feels like I've been 4 1/2 months pregnant for about a year. I guess that Tuesday officially marks 5 months, since on Tuesday I officially have 4 months remaining until my due date. Still, it's just easier to count in weeks. I wish I could tell people I'm 21 weeks and have them actually understand that in weeks without asking how many months that is. (though in fairness, I've never measured my life in weeks before either, and I was one of those people who asked all my pregnant friends how many months they were).

So now that I'm around 5 months pregnant, I feel like I'm allowed to look as pregnant as I do - and I actually feel pretty cute. I have a little round belly and I love it :) And I'm addicted to maternity dresses. I feel super duper cute in them.

Yesterday, I was over at my Sister- and Brother-in-Law's house, and my BIL earned himself some serious brownie points. I hadn't seen him in a few weeks and he looked down at my belly, smiled and was surprised by how it all of a sudden looks pregnant, not just round.

He asked how far along I am now, and I said "about 5 months". He said, "Wow! You look great!" I could have kissed him. He went on to say, "You know how a lot of pregnant women put on weight all over - through their face and arms and stuff - well, you haven't at all! You look exactly the same!" honestly, that made my day more than the hotdog I had at the movie theatre, or the 2 hours of mindless entertainment of robots turning into vehicles that was the new Transformers movie. That was exactly what I wanted to hear. I did put on weight in my face (and boobs!), but that happened right at the very beginning, so for the last 3 1/2 - 4 months, I haven't really noticed a big change except in my belly.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

21 Weeks - Banana

Weekly Pregnancy Journal



How far along: 21 w, 2 d


Total weight gain/loss: I decided not to get on the scale this week. It just depresses me - and really, I'm not going to do anything about it anyway, so why bother?

Maternity clothes: Yup

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: The last few nights haven't been good. I can't seem to get comfortable. Back sleeping is completely out now, since my abdomen feels like I'm smuggling a pile of bricks in it. And side sleeping gives me a cramp around my ribs. I propped myself up on about a zillion pillows last night to try to sleep sort of upright - that worked for a while.... But I'm still exhausted.

Best moment this week: Umm... I dunno! I really need to blog more often so the weeks don't fly by in such a blur. Ooh, okay here's one - finally seeing the company president for the first time since I've told everyone. And he said he was delighted to hear the news. What a nice guy :) Ooh, and another one - getting the adorable bedding on Friday! My husband's the best - he didn't tell me that he broke down and ordered it, despite how freaking expensive it is.

Movement: Yup :) Still waiting for Nick to feel it - it seems like every time the baby is kicking I put his hand on my belly, and the baby stops.

Cravings: Nothing really. Everything still just takes delicious. And the last few days I've been ravenous, so maybe we're having a growth spurt?

Aversions: None

Gender: Yup, we know. But we're not telling. Actually, I did tell someone - my pedicurist :) It felt great to tell a stranger. It made it feel more real.

Labour Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Sleeping on my back. Being able to 'groom' myself. Rolling over easily

What I'm looking forward to: The house!

Weekly Wisdom: ??

Symptoms this week: Nothing major. Just that my abdomen feels really heavy now when I lay down. And my skin's been really oily these days - I've stopped wearing moisturizer (which is nutso for me) and I have perma-shine. But at least the acne hasn't come back!

Milestones: Having to go get waxed for the first time because I can no longer see my lady bits - even if I bend and contort. So on Friday, I went for a bikini wax and a pedicure - and I'm glad they did it in that order: scary waxing, followed by relaxing pedi :)

Also, moving to 'crown to foot' measurements instead of 'crown to rump'. Baby's getting so big!



Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Friday, June 26, 2009

So cute!

Nick surprised me and went ahead and ordered this - it came today! It was so worth it - it's adorable! And he ordered it because I absolutely adore it, not because he likes it (he was terrified of bees as a kid. I was not). We got the bedding, wall hanging things, lamp and mobile.


Monday, June 22, 2009

20 weeks - Cantaloupe - halfway done!




Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 20 w, 1 d - Halfway done!!

Total weight gain/loss: +17.2 - I am honestly going to be a whale.

Maternity clothes: Yup

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: I bought a new pillow yesterday and tried it out last night - seems good :)



Best moment this week: Knowing everyone is wrong when they predict whether we're having a boy or girl.

Movement: Yup :) Can't wait until Nick can feel it from the outside

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: None

Gender: We know it now - but I'm not sure I'm ready to announce it on the blog (to the 0 people who read it) since we're telling everyone we don't know.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Wine with dinner at my dad's

What I'm looking forward to: Getting our house and buying stuff for it :)

Weekly Wisdom: Hmm, I don't think I've been very wise this week

Symptoms this week: Nothing major

Milestones: Finding out the sex... even though I didn't want to.

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

Monday, June 15, 2009

19 weeks - Mango

Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 19 w, 0 d

Total weight gain/loss: +15. I just hope that my doctor doesn't tell me on Friday that I'm gaining too much weight! I really need to lay off the junk food.

Maternity clothes: Yup

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: I don't really love the wedge pillow, so I'm thinking of buying a boppy pillow that I can use now and as a nursing pillow.

Best moment this week: Seeing the dance party going on in my ute at the ultrasound on Friday, and feeling definite movement. It's not just "flutters" - it's a full-on poke from the inside out.

Movement: Definitely! And it's fantastic!

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: None

Gender: I think it's a girl, but I don't really know. We had the U/S technician take the photos and put them on file just in case we decide to find out, but so far, it's a mystery.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In, but it's huge and shallow

What I miss: The ease with which I used to just stand up from the couch or get out of the car

What I'm looking forward To: Getting the u/s results this Friday when I see my OB

Weekly Wisdom: As much as my brother-in-law's mom drove me crazy on the weekend with her insensitive comments about my size, I should just be happy that she's not my mother-in-law!

Symptoms this week: Nothing major this week.

Milestones: Movement! And I now have cute defined baby bump - complete with the U-shaped indent underneath it. So I no longer have to worry if I just look chubby - it's definitely baby!
Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

No filter

So we went to my SIL's birthday yesterday, and her in-laws were there. Her MIL is old school Italian, and apparently has no problem saying really inappropriate things. She told my BIL that she's 100% positive I'm having a girl because I'm carrying my weight behind - like, in my back and ass.

That's just great. Because I'm pretty sure my ass is the same size it always was - I don't look pregnant from the back.

So she just called me fat. That's great.

I went to the party feeling really cute - I finally have a clearly pregnant belly with the little semi-circular line underneath it - the sure differentiator between too many Happy Meals and housing a little human in there. I started out in the best mood, and then, after her comments (and about 15 minutes of her pointing at me from across the back yard and making bets with the other parents based on my apparently-expanding ass) I was in such a funk. Totally ruined my day.

Honestly - where's your filter? In what world is it okay to tell *any* woman - let alone a pregnant one who is trying to get used to her new body shape - that she's getting fat anywhere?? Not okay lady, not okay.

Friday, June 12, 2009

18 week ultrasound

(Note: I'm actually writing this on Tuesday... but I'm pre-dating it as Friday, the day I had the ultrasound.)

So I had my 18 week ultrasound today, and all I can say is DON'T TELL ME TO DRINK 35 OUNCES OF WATER AND THEN MAKE ME WAIT FOR MY APPOINTMENT, AND THEN WONDER WHY MY BLADDER IS FULL TO THE POINT WHERE I'M IN TEARS. Okay. Sorry for the shouting.

That was painful. I had to go empty my bladder "a bit - but not too much" twice. How exactly do I judge just how full my bladder is? Do I have a fill line visible from the outside so I can leave it half-full? No, I don't.

And then the lady asked me if I drank more than I was supposed to. Ya, that sounds reasonable. The pregnant girl chose to drink extra and then hold it for an hour. Makes perfect sense - because I'm a masochist like that.

Anyway, she spent 20 minutes doing her thing with the screen turned away from me so I couldn't see what she was doing.

Nick and I were still undecided on whether to find out the sex - I really didn't want to know. REALLY didn't. But he was equally passionate about wanting to find out. Arguments ensued. Nobody was happy. But in the end, the u/s technician wouldn't tell us anyway - my doctor would review the results with me. So I asked her to take the pictures and just put them in the file so if we decided later that we were going find out, they were available.

So all in all, not an overly exciting experience. She eventually brought Nick in and showed us the feet and hands and a close up of the face, and gave us two printouts of skeletor baby (not as good as the 12 week pictures).

Oh, and I can't forget what she told me. At the beginning of the appointment she told me that the baby was really active - and asked in an accusatory voice, "When did you eat last". I told her I had a banana about an hour before the appt. but I hadn't had lunch yet. She was shocked that I hadn't had lunch at 2:00, but I explained that I work until 1 on Fridays and don't get a lunch, and since I came right to the appt., I just had a banana before I left the office and was going to eat after.

She then proceeded to tell me that my baby was in distress due to low blood sugar - that's why there was so much movement.

HONESTLY. I'm Hypoglycemic, lady. I know when my bloodsugar is low - because I pass out. It's not low. The baby's probably moving around for the exact opposite reason - the rush of sugar to the blood from the banana is causing the dance party in my uterus. B*tch. And when she was showing Nick and I the close up of the baby's face, s/he was opening and closing its mouth and she said, "See, the baby's hungry." Ah, that makes sense. The baby - who is currently eating through a tube in its belly - is asking for a hamburger by opening and closing its mouth.

She's lucky I was lying half-naked on a table with gel all over my belly. Because if there was a blunt object within reaching distance....

So that's my 18 week appointment. I'm so glad I won't be spending time with that ultrasound technician. I love my OB.

And now, the 18 week pictures of baby skeletor:

Thursday, June 11, 2009

A fun moment in the airport and other fun "I guess I've popped" milestones

When we were going through customs at the airport last Friday, I had a funny experience. I went through the metal detector, and the grommits on my capris set off the the little light so the woman proceeds to wave the wand over me to see what was setting it off. She then proceeded to pat me down... spending extra attention on my tummy. She was checking to see if I was smuggling something in my baby bump :) Yup - a little brownie. I wanted to tell her that was all me, but just waited for her to figure it out as she kept pat-pat-patting my belly from all angles. Once she lifted my shirt a bit to see the offending metal grommits and saw the big ol' stretchy maternity panel, she let me go.
 
----------------------------------
 
Sometime over the course of our trip I went from looking kind of pregnant but mostly chubby to "holy cow, I look pregnant!" I don't know when or how it happened (though I suspect it had something to do with the pastry buffet table and sugary fruit punches...) but all of a sudden, I look pregnant - over the course of a 4 day weekend. At the beginning of the trip, I could see people checking out the belly but looking curious. By the end of the trip, I went to sit down for dinner and the hostess asked straight out, "how's the baby?" and the woman trying to convince us to book another Sandals vacation said, "after the baby, of course". There's no questioning now.
 
So ya... I've popped!
 
------------------------------------
 
I was just downstairs getting a coffee with my boss (well, I was getting chocolate milk) and one of the EAs I work with (who really drives me mental) was sitting at one of the tables with another colleague. She looks at me and from across the restaurant says, "Daphne!' I look over, and she's all smiles and rubbing her belly looking at me. I nod, and she said she was shocked - she had no idea! And the other colleague said she saw me yesterday and wondered. The EA said, "wow! you kept that a secret!".  Well, not really - I just try to avoid her at all costs because she drives me nuts. But I had a conversation with her just last week and she didn't notice it then.
 
-------------------------------------
 
I'm not quite halfway there... and I look definitely pregnant. I'm going to be HUGE by the end! But as one of my HR coworkers says, it's okay that I have a belly already - the baby needs room to grow!  Grow away, little brownie!
 
T-1 day until our ultrasound! I can't wait :)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

18 weeks - Sweet Potato

Weekly Pregnancy Journal


How far along: 18 w, 1 d

Total weight gain/loss: Since I was in the Bahamas on weigh-in Monday, I'm skipping this week. Let's just put it simply: weight gain = a LOT

Maternity clothes: Yup, and some of the non-mat shirts that fit me (even last week) are getting a little snug now.

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: Fab. And my SIL loaned me her wedge pillow, so I'm trying that out. So far I'm finding it uncomfortable, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Best moment this week: I think it was simultaneously a good and bad moment (or collection of moments) - in the Bahamas, when people didn't even question if I was pregnant and just asked how the baby is. I'm excited that I'm looking pregnant and not just fat, but on the other hand, I think I'm *way too big* to be only 18 weeks along! Either way though, as long as everything's healthy, that's a good thing.

Movement: I think I might have felt movement on the weekend... it felt like a light pinching from the inside out, and I can't think of what else that might be. So yay if that was our little brownie saying hi!

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: None

Gender: No idea. We really need to decide if we're going to find out - before our ultrasound on Friday! I still don't want to know though.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In, but it's huge and shallow

What I miss: Still would kill for a glass of wine. I had a sip of champagne on vacation, but otherwise stuck to my fruit punch and virgin daquiris. but I really wanted wine with dinner. I should ask my OB about having the occasional 1/2 glass when I see her next week.

What I'm looking forward To: Friday's ultrasound!

Weekly Wisdom: Try to be a little more sensitive when someone wants to throw you a shower. I think I really hurt my best friend's feelings when I told her that we're thinking of having a co-ed housewarming/baby-q at our new place instead of her doing a small BBQ for just my girlfriends. I think she understands (I really don't want a shower, and while doing a small thing at her place would be fun and not really shower-like (which is good, b/c I HATE showers), it would mean I'd have to do a BIG Indian thing with my in-laws which I really don't want) but she was definitely upset.

Symptoms this week: I had some red spotting on Sunday... which was scary as hell even though I knew logically that it was because of the vacation sexin'. It turned into brownish spotting the next day, and now it's gone. But that was still scary. Otherwise, I guess my only other symptom is feeling and looking big - I definitely look pregnant now!

New Question - Milestones: I can't do my own toenails anymore. It's been getting increasingly uncomfortable, but I was able to put a coat on Thursday night in preparation for the weekend of flip-flop wearing. I splurged and got a french pedi in the Bahamas, and noticed last night that I had already chipped one of the white tips. So there I am, sitting on my bathroom floor trying to bend and contort to touch up the white, and I bent so forcefully that I actually threw up in my mouth a little. So that's it, I'm getting professional pedicures from now on. Blech.

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

Monday, June 1, 2009

16 week doctor's appointment & bloodwork

So last Wednesday, I had a doctor's appointment and I still haven't blogged about it. It wasn't a super-exciting appointment, but it was good. We actually thought I was just going to the lab for bloodwork and not seeing my doctor (it was part 2 of the IPS testing), but it turns out it was a full appointment, then blood at the lab. So Nick didn't come with me (since we thought I wasn't seeing my doctor) and it turns out he could have. Lesson learned.
 
So here's what I learned:
 
She got back the results from my last set of bloodwork - I don't have HIV or Syphillis --score! Either of those would have been a really unpleasant surprise. I'm also immune to Rubella, which I already knew since I got my shots in preparation for the India trip we didn't take. My Hemoglobin is on the low side of normal, but that's okay. She says that might go down more during pregnancy. I'm not really sure what any of that means, but I'm sure she'll tell me if it's an issue. My mom said to make sure I get enough red meat. No problem there. 
My blood type is O+. Never knew that. Apparently that's my mom's too.
 
She took my blood pressure and it's normal, and then we heard the baby's heartbeat for all of 10 seconds - she didn't even have to search for it. As soon as she put the wand on my belly, I heard the woosh woosh woosh. She said it was like the baby was waiting to say hello :) Heartrate is at 146, which is totally normal. 

Then she did a swab (I was not expecting that at all, since I didn't know I was even seeing my doctor - surprise!), which was given to the lab, and I did more bloodwork as part of the IPS stuff.  Good times. I freaking love giving blood. But this time it was only 2 vials, and I didn't bruise after.
 
So all in all, a good appointment. I go back in 2 weeks for my IPS ultrasound (at the lab, not with my doctor - for real this time, I don't see her that day) and then the week after I see my doctor again.
 
Good times!

17 Weeks - Onion

Weekly Pregnancy Journal


How far along: 17 w, 0 d
Total weight gain/loss: + 11. Ugh. But in my defense, I haven't really gone to the bathroom in a couple of days, so that should account for something.

Maternity clothes: Yup

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: Is great. I'm still sleeping on my back a lot and it's totally comfortable. I need to buy one of those triangle pillows so side-sleeping is more comfortable

Best moment this week: My doctor's appointment (which I still haven't blogged about - I've been lazy) was pretty good. It's always great to hear that everything is okay - and that I don't have Syphillis :) Ooh, and I found REALLY CUTE bee bedding that I MUST BUY. No matter how expensive it is (which it is, very). But it's absolutely adorable.

Movement: Still can't feel anything - but I want to so badly!

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: None

Gender: No idea. And I really don't want to find out, but Nick really does. This is a problem.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In, but it's huge

What I miss: Wine. It's going to be weird doing an all-inclusive and passing on the champagne.

What I'm looking forward To: Bahamas! And next Friday's ultrasound

Weekly Wisdom: Try not to be too offended when people say "wow, you're already showing!" Wow thanks, I hadn't notice. And really I'm 4 months pregnant. It's okay that I look pregnant!

Symptoms this week: Nothing much, really. My gums are still really sore (My dentist appointment next week is sure to be brutally painful). Other than that, feeling normal. I have a cold and a sore throat as of yesterday, but that's not our little brownie's fault.


Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Monday, May 25, 2009

16 Weeks - Avocado

Weekly Pregnancy Journal



How far along: 16 w, 0 d

Total weight gain/loss: + 9.4

Maternity clothes: Absolutely. And on Friday I went shopping again and bought 2 mat bathing suits for our bahamas trip, and some shirts from Old Navy.

Stretch marks: Not yet - and I bought some stretch mark cream now.

Sleep: Is great

Best moment this week: Um... It was a pretty good week, but nothing really major in terms of pregnancy moments. I guess it would be when someone I don't really know at work asked if I'm expecting - I guess that means that I'm looking more pregnant than fat these days :)

Movement: Still can't feel anything

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: None

Gender: No idea.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In, but it's definitely starting to change shape.

What I miss: Alcohol. We were at my sister-in-law's for most of the weekend while our condo was being perused by strangers, and I was acutely reminded of how much I would like a Corona to go along with the BBQ'd goodness. Brutal. Also, we went to the liquor store on Saturday to get some wine to put in our wine rack (also for the open house) and it was painful.

What I'm looking forward To: Bahamas! And an ultrasound in 2 weeks!

Weekly Wisdom: I need to quit worrying about my weight and just focus on eating well.

Symptoms this week: A bit of light brownish spotting this weekend, but I think I just overdid it trying to get ready for the open house on Saturday. It's gone now, and otherwise, I feel great.



Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

Friday, May 22, 2009

A perk

They're doing the annual Spring carpet cleaning at the office this weekend, so the department is busy moving boxes that have been permanently fixed to the floor for the past 6 months up on top of filing cabinets and tables.

And I don't have to help.

The one guy in my department said, "Well, Daphne is exempt because of her condition". It makes me sound like I'm dying, but I'll get over it if it means I don't have to lug dusty boxes around today, and then back to their original spots on Monday.

Score!

Whose bellybutton is this?

So yesterday, as I was busy moisturizing after my shower, I looked in the mirror and saw something shocking. There appears to be a big, gaping hole in my stomach where my little and deep belly button used to be. All of a sudden, it has changed - it's huge and wide and you can see straight in - it's not the shadowed little circle it used to be.

I showed Nick when he woke up and he said, "I don't think I've ever been able to see the 'back' of your bellybutton before!" Meaning that it went in so far that it just seemed like a black hole.

And so it begins. I hope it just continues to flatten out and doesn't ever pop out... though I know that's probably an unrealistic hope.

Also, my belly's starting to feel less like a big roll of fat, and more like a thin layer of fat covering a hard baby bump. Which is awesome :) I don't mind feeling like a whale if it's a hard bump, but when it just looks like I've been eating too much, well, that's not so cute.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

spot on - from theBump

Dear Non-Pregnant Person,

I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, "surely she doesn't mean me," then you should probably read this twice.

  1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is 'Congratulations!' with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.
  2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father - not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase 'my baby'.
  3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in #2, the pregnancy, birth and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it...
  4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.
  5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight... ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments gives her license to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is 'You look fabulous!'.
  6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.
  7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, mother-in-law or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren't invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won't be invited to be there when it comes out either.
  8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor's appointments, ultrasounds, labour, delivery, the hospital and the new parents' home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to 'help out'. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.
  9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.
  10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

    Sincerely,
    All the Pregnant Women in the World

Monday, May 18, 2009

15 Weeks - Naval Orange

Weekly Pregnancy Journal


How far along: 15 w, 0 d

Total weight gain/loss: + 9. I know that's not supposed to bother me, but it does anyway. I'm looking pregnant, but I feel like a fraud because there's definitely some lump over the bump - even above the belly button, though I know my ute hasn't expanded up there yet. I need to stop worrying about this.

Maternity clothes: Yup. Last week I hit a new low in my fashion style - I bought some mat pants at Wal*Mart. I don't think I've ever blogged about it before, but that place is my nemesis. I hate it... but the jeans were only $25. ...And I hate myself for getting sucked in by cheap pants.

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: Is great

Best moment this week: Finding out about our surprise trip to Bahamas! Nick and I went out for dinner on our anniversary and he put our trip itinerary in my card. I was so surprised! It's just a 4 day, but I'm so excited to sit on the beach and for the first time not feel bad about looking like a whale. :)
Also, we went to my SIL's yesterday and she showed us a bunch of baby stuff we'll be inheriting from her, including a beautiful cherry crib and bouncy chairs and such. Sweet :)

Movement: Still just in the bowels

Food cravings: Nothing really. I'm still hungry every few hours, but I'm eating normal food.

Aversions: None

Gender: No idea.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: 'living' in our condo. It's listed now, so everything has to be spotless *just in case*. It's nice that it's always clean, but having to plan when I do laundry so it's not hanging up when we leave the house isn't fun.

What I'm looking forward To: Bahamas!

Weekly Wisdom: Um.... I don't think I've been very wise this week. No wisdoms.

Symptoms this week: I just feel huge.



Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

Friday, May 15, 2009

A list...

Of things that bother me

  1. That one of our managers writes her smiley face emoticons backwards (-;
  2. People who shuffle their feet
  3. Toilet paper rolls on 'backward'. The free edge should fall down the front, not the back.
  4. That my husband seems incapable of putting his damn hair gel and comb back in the drawer when he's done with them
  5. When doctor's office waiting rooms only have 2 year old copies of Sports Illustrated to flip through on your ridiculously long wait. Come on - you make enough money to spring for a couple of magazine subscriptions.
  6. That one of my colleagues talks to her email as she's reading it. She has no internal monologue. "How am I supposed to answer that?? Well, I'm not writing back to you right now."
  7. The long and cumbersome process that is submitting my expenses at work
  8. Packing for weekends in London
  9. Putting laundry away

That's all that's on my mind right now. Back to work for another hour, and then I'm going home. Long weekend!

Monday, May 11, 2009

14 Weeks - Lemon

Weekly Pregnancy Journal

How far along: 14 w, 0 d

Total weight gain/loss: + 6.8. Ugh. And I've been eating better this week too. I'm going to be a whale.

Maternity clothes: Yes, and it's wonderful. I'm still wearing my non-mat jeans (the new ones fall down) and some non-mat shirts, but otherwise, I'm as comfy as can be.

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: Is great

Best moment this week: Buying a house! WOOOOO! Getting a Mother's Day card from our little brownie (I think daddy helped him/her do the shopping ;)

Movement: Still just in the bowels

Food cravings: Nothing really - my appetite has waned a bit. I'm absolutely starving every few hours or so, but I don't eat very much in one sitting. Like, a yogurt and banana or half a sandwich pretty much does it for me.

Aversions: None

Gender: Maybe a girl? But really, no idea.

Labour Signs: None

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Still would love a glass of wine.

What I am looking forward to: Getting pictures of our new house!

Weekly Wisdom: It's just as well we didn't buy that last house, because it just wasn't meant to be. When it's right, you won't have to convince yourself.

Symptoms this week: Um... other than the bleeding gums, I'm feeling pretty fabulous.
Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.